Fox Networks Distribution President Mike Hopkins is leaving the company to become Hulu CEO, sources confirmed. Bloomberg broke the story last night. Hopkins is leaving as Fox enters critical carriage negotiations with Time Warner Cable over YES Network. Fox also has big deals with cable operators Cox and Charter ending soon for networks that include FS1 and RSNs, sources said. It is not clear how Fox plans to replace Hopkins, but Exec VP Michael Biard is considered the clear front runner to take over.

Hopkins is the second senior exec to leave Fox' distribution group in a month. Senior VP/Distribution & Marketing Sean Riley left the company in September after nearly 16 years. Hopkins also joined Fox' cable affiliate group around 16 years ago. He took over as the group's top exec in '07, replacing Lindsay Gardner. During that time he negotiated to get Big Ten Network launched and convinced distributors to switch from Speed to FS1 earlier this year.